Simultaneous Treatment of Long-chain Monounsaturated Fatty Acid and n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Decreases Lipid and Cholesterol Levels in HepG2 Cell.

The n-3 type polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3PUFAs), including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), from fish oil exhibit health benefits such as triacylglycerol- and cholesterol-lowering effects. Some pelagic fishes contain long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids (LC-MUFAs) such as eicosenoic acid (C20:1), which exert health-promoting effects. However, no study has evaluated beneficial effects of n-3PUFA and LC-MUFA combination. Here, we investigated effects of simultaneous treatment with n-3PUFA (EPA and DHA) and LC-MUFA (cis-5-C20:1 and cis-7-C20:1) and found that n-3PUFA and LC-MUFA combination significantly decreased lipid accumulation and reduced total cholesterol in HepG2 cells. Cholesterol level was significantly lower in DHA + cis-7-C20:1 group than in DHA + EPA group. These results suggest the importance of LC-MUFA as a functional molecule in fish oil.

Daily Oral Administration of Protease-Treated Royal Jelly Protects Against Denervation-Induced Skeletal Muscle Atrophy.

Honeybees produce royal jelly (RJ) from their cephalic glands. Royal jelly is a source of nutrition for the queen honey bee throughout its lifespan and is also involved in fertility and longevity. Royal jelly has long been considered beneficial to human health. We recently observed that RJ delayed impairment of motor function during aging, affecting muscle fiber size. However, how RJ affects skeletal muscle metabolism and the functional component of RJ is as of yet unidentified. We demonstrate that feeding mice with RJ daily prevents a decrease in myofiber size following denervation without affecting total muscle weight. RJ did not affect atrophy-related genes but stimulated the expression of myogenesis-related genes, including IGF-1 and IGF receptor. Trans-10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10H2DA) and 10-hydroxydecanoic acid (10HDAA), two major fatty acids contained in RJ. After ingestion, 10H2DA and 10HDAA are metabolized into 2-decenedioic acid (2DA) and sebacic acid (SA) respectively. We found that 10H2DA, 10HDAA, 2DA, and SA all regulated myogenesis of C2C12 cells, murine myoblast cells. These novel findings may be useful for potential preventative and therapeutic applications for muscle atrophy disease included in Sarcopenia, an age-related decline in skeletal muscle mass and strength.

Delta or Omega? Δ12 (ω6) fatty acid desaturases count 3C after the pre-existing double bond.

Fatty acid desaturases (FADs) represent a class of oxygen-dependent enzymes that dehydrogenate C-C bonds in the fatty acids (FAs) producing unsaturated CC double bonds that markedly change the properties of biological membranes. FADs are highly specific towards their acyl substrates, the position and configuration of the introduced double bonds. The double bond positioning of soluble acyl-carrier-protein Δ9-FADs was determined relative to the carboxyl end of a FA. Similar mode was suggested for the acyl-lipid Δ12-FADs (also known as ω6-FADs), however, their exact counting order remain unknown. Here we used monounsaturated odd- (17:1Δ10) and even-chain (18:1Δ11) FAs to show that acyl-lipid Δ12-FADs of, at least, two cyanobacterial species, Gloeobacter violaceus and Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803, use neither end of the fatty acid (Δ or ω) as a counting reference point; but count three carbons toward the methyl end from an existing double bond in the monoene precursors irrespective of a FA chain length.

Discovery of fingolimod based on the chemical modification of a natural product from the fungus, Isaria sinclairii.

Fingolimod is a first-in-class of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator and is widely used a therapeutic drug for multiple sclerosis (MS), autoimmune disease in the central nervous system. About 25 year ago, a natural product, myriocin was isolated from culture broths of the fungus Isaria sinclairii. Myriocin, a rather complex amino acid having three successive asymmetric centers, was found to show a potent immunosuppressive activity in vitro; however, it induced a strong toxicity in vivo. To find out a less toxic immunosuppressive candidate, the chemical structure of myriocin was simplified to a nonchiral symmetric 2-substituted-2-aminoproane-1,3-diol framework. Finally, a highly potent immunosuppressant, fingolimod was found by the extensive chemical modification and pharmacological evaluation using skin allograft model in vivo. Throughout the analyses of the mechanism action of fingolimod, it is revealed that S1P receptor 1 (S1P1) plays an essential role in lymphocyte circulation and that the molecular target of fingolimod is S1P1. Phosphorylated fingolimod acts as a "functional" antagonist at S1P1, modulates lymphocyte circulation, and shows a potent immunosuppressive activity. Fingolimod significantly reduced the relapse rate of MS in the clinical studies and has been approved as a new therapeutic drug for MS in more than 80 countries.

Pharmacological effects and mechanisms of muscone.

Musk, the dried secretion from the preputial follicles of the male musk deer (genus Moschus), possesses various pharmacological activities and has been used extensively in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Muscone is the main active ingredient of musk and exerts pharmacological effects similar to those of musk. Although muscone was notably used to treat various disorders and diseases, such as neurological disorders, chronic inflammation and ischemia-reperfusion injury, most of the mechanisms of the pharmacological action of muscone remain unclear because of slow progress in research before the 21st century. In recent years, the pharmacological activities and mechanisms of muscone have been clarified. The present article summarizes the pharmacological and biological studies on cerebrovascular disease, cardiovascular disease, neurological effects, cancer and others and the associated mechanisms of the action of muscone to date.

Proteome of thymus and spleen reveals that 10-hydroxydec-2-enoic acid could enhance immunity in mice.

Objectives: 10-hydroxydec-2-enoic acid (10-HDA), a unique component of royal jelly existing only in nature, has the potential to promote human health. Knowledge of 10-HDA in regulating immuno-activity, however, is lacking. The aim of our work is to gain a novel understanding of 10-HDA in promoting immunity.Methods: Immuno-suppressed mice were generated by cyclophosphamide injection, After 10-HDA supplementation to the mice to rescue their immunity, the proteomes of the thymus and spleen were analyzed.Results: The weight of the body, thymus, and spleen in cyclophosphamide-induced mice recovered by 10-HDA indicate its potential role in immuno-organ protection. In the thymus, the enhanced activity of pathways associated with DNA/RNA/protein activities may be critical for T-lymphocyte proliferation/differentiation, and cytotoxicity. In the spleen, the induced pathways involved in DNA/RNA/protein activities, and cell proliferative stimulation suggest their vital role in B-lymphocyte affinity maturation, antigen presentation, and macrophage activity. The up-regulated proteins highly connected in networks modulated by 10-HDA indicate that the mice may evolve tactics to respond to immuno-organ impairment by activating critical physiological processes.Conclusion: Our data constitute a proof-of-concept that 10-HDA is a potential agent to improve immunity in the thymus and spleen and offer a new venue for applying natural products to the therapy for hypoimmunity.

Trans-palmitoleic acid (trans-9-C16:1, or trans-C16:1 n-7): Nutritional impacts, metabolism, origin, compositional data, analytical methods and chemical synthesis. A review.

Since the early 2010s, dietary trans-palmitoleic acid (trans-9-hexadecenoic acid, trans-9-C16:1 in the Δ-nomenclature, trans-C16:1 n-7 in the Ω-nomenclature, TPA) has been epidemiologically associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes in humans. Thanks to these findings, TPA has become a nutrient of interest. However, there is a lot of unresolved crucial questions about this dietary fatty acid. Is TPA a natural trans fatty acid? What kind of foods ensures intakes in TPA? What about its metabolism? How does dietary TPA act to prevent type 2 diabetes? What are the biological mechanisms involved in this physiological effect? Clearly, it is high time to answer all these questions with the very first review specifically dedicated to this intriguing fatty acid. Aiming at getting an overview, we shall try to give an answer to all these questions, relying on appropriate and accurate scientific results. Briefly, this review underlines that TPA is indeed a natural trans fatty acid which is metabolically linked to other well-known natural trans fatty acids. Knowledge on physiological impacts of dietary TPA is limited so far to epidemiological data, awaiting for supplementation studies. In this multidisciplinary review, we also emphasize on methodological topics related to TPA, particularly when it comes to the quantification of TPA in foods and human plasma. As a conclusion, we highlight promising health benefits of dietary TPA; however, there is a strong lack in well-designed studies in both the nutritional and the analytical area.

In Silico, Cytotoxic and Antioxidant Potential of Novel Ester, 3-hydroxyoctyl -5- trans-docosenoate Isolated from Anchusa arvensis (L.) M.Bieb. Against HepG-2 Cancer Cells.

BACKGROUND: Cancer is one of the chronic health conditions worldwide. Various therapeutically active compounds from medicinal plants were the current focus of this research in order to uncover a treatment regimen for cancer. Anchusa arvensis (A. anchusa) (L.) M.Bieb. contains many biologically active compounds. METHODS: In the current study, new ester 3-hydroxyoctyl -5- trans-docosenoate (compound-1) was isolated from the chloroform soluble fraction of A. anchusa using column chromatography. Using MTT assay, the anticancer effect of the compound was determined in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG-2) compared with normal epithelial cell line (Vero). DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays were performed to assess the antioxidant potential. The Molecular Operating Environment (MOE-2016) tool was used against tyrosine kinase. RESULTS: The structure of the compound was elucidated based on IR, EI, and NMR spectroscopy technique. It exhibited a considerable cytotoxic effect against HepG-2 cell lines with IC50 value of 6.50 ± 0.70 µg/mL in comparison to positive control (doxorubicin) which showed IC50 value of 1.3±0.21 µg/mL. The compound did not show a cytotoxic effect against normal epithelial cell line (Vero). The compound also exhibited significant DPHH scavenging ability with IC50 value of 12 ± 0.80 µg/mL, whereas ascorbic acid, used as positive control, demonstrated activity with IC50 = 05 ± 0.15 µg/mL. Similarly, it showed ABTS radical scavenging ability (IC50 = 130 ± 0.20 µg/mL) compared with the value obtained for ascorbic acid (06 ± 0.85 µg/mL). In docking studies using MOE-2016 tool, it was observed that compound-1 was highly bound to tyrosine kinase by having two hydrogen bonds at the hinge region. This good bonding network by the compound might be one of the reasons for showing significant activity against this enzyme. CONCLUSION: Our findings led to the isolation of a new compound from A. anchusa which has significant cytotoxic activity against HepG-2 cell lines with marked antioxidant potential.

A mini review of nervonic acid: Source, production, and biological functions.

Nervonic acid (NA) has attracted considerable attention because of its close relationship with brain development. Sources of NA include oil crop seeds, oil-producing microalgae, and other microorganisms. Transgenic technology has also been applied to improve the sources and production of NA. NA can be separated and purified by urea adduction fractionation, molecular distillation, and crystallization. Studies on NA functionality involved treatments for demyelinating diseases and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, as well as prediction of mortality due to cardiovascular diseases and chronic kidney disease. This mini review focuses on the sources, production, and biological functions of NA and provides prospective trends in the investigation of NA.

Comparing the simultaneous determination of cis- and trans-palmitoleic acid in fish oil using HPLC and GC.

BACKGROUND: Cis- and trans-palmitoleic acids (Cis-POA and trans-POA) are isomers of palmitoleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid which affects glucose and lipid metabolism, and reduces insulin resistance. Trans-POA is used as a biomarker for indicating the risk of type II diabetes and coronary heart disease, but no methods of analysis or distinguishing between cis-POA and trans-POA have yet been reported. METHOD: An accurate and precise HPLC method was developed to determine cis- and trans-POA simultaneously, and compared with results from a GC method. Cis- and trans-POA were analyzed by HPLC on a reverse-phase BDS-C18 column, equilibrated and eluted with acetonitrile (A) and water (B). In the established and validated GC method used for comparison, potassium hydroxide ester exchange was chosen to derivatize the cis- and trans-POA, before being determined. RESULTS: The calibration curves for cis- and trans-POA were linear over the range 0.05 to 500 µg/mL. The HPLC method exhibited good sensitivity, precision and accuracy. The limits of detection (LOD) for cis- and trans-POA were 0.2 and 0.05 µg/mL, respectively. The method successfully determined cis- and trans-POA in fish oil. For the GC method, the contents of cis-POA quantified were similar to those from the HPLC method, but the contents of trans-POA revealed significant variation between the two methods. CONCLUSIONS: After a comprehensive consideration of the characteristics of the saponification and methyl esterification methods which have been tested and verified, the HPLC method was found to be suitable for determining cis- and trans-POA contents in fish oil. It was also suggested that in natural fish oil, cis-POA may be in the glyceride state, and trans-POA almost completely in the free acid form. In comparison with the GC method, the HPLC method provided a simpler process and faster analyses for identifying and determining cis- and trans-POA. The study has also provided technical support for studying the pharmacological differences and relationship between structure and activity of cis- and trans-POA. This could help physicians to analyze patients' samples more quickly in 10 min and therefore provide a more rapid diagnosis of problems relating to the risk of type II diabetes and coronary heart disease.

Tandem Mass Tag Based Quantitative Proteomics of Developing Sea Buckthorn Berries Reveals Candidate Proteins Related to Lipid Metabolism.

Sea buckthorn ( Hippophae L.) is an economically important shrub or small tree distributed in Eurasia. Most of its well-recognized medicinal and nutraceutical products are derived from its berry oil, which is rich in monounsaturated omega-7 (C16:1) fatty acid and polyunsaturated omega-6 (C18:2) and omega-3 (C18:3) fatty acids. In this study, tandem mass tags (TMT)-based quantitative analysis was used to investigate protein profiles of lipid metabolism in sea buckthorn berries harvested 30, 50, and 70 days after flowering. In total, 8626 proteins were identified, 6170 of which were quantified. Deep analysis results for the proteins identified and related pathways revealed initial fatty acid accumulation during whole-berry development. The abundance of most key enzymes involved in fatty acid and triacylglycerol (TAG) biosynthesis peaked at 50 days after flowering, but TAG synthesis through the PDAT (phospholipid: diacylglycerol acyltransferase) pathway mostly occurred early in berry development. In addition, the patterns of proteins involved in lipid metabolism were confirmed by combined quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and parallel reaction monitoring analyses. Our data on the proteomic spectrum of sea buckthorn berries provide a scientific basic for understanding lipid metabolism and related pathways in the developing berries.

Bioassay-guided isolation of active anti-adipogenic compound from royal jelly and the study of possible mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: Royal jelly (RJ) has been used traditionally for dietary, cosmetic and health purposes for a long time in different parts of the world. Scientific studies have also shown its numerous health-promoting properties including hypoglycemic and anti-hypercholesterolemic action. In this study, we investigated the anti-adipogenic activity of RJ in 3 T3-L1 cells and isolated the major responsible root component for the activity. METHODS: An active anti-adipogenic compound was isolated through bioassay-guided isolation process by successive treatment of RJ and its active fractions on 3 T3-L1 cell line. (E)-10-Hydroxy-2-decenoic Acid (10-HDA) was identified using NMR spectroscopy and ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). As 10-HDA showed significant anti-adipogenic activity with Oil Red O staining and TG content assay on 3 T3-L1 adipocytes, further study was carried out in molecular level for the expression of adipogenic transcription factors such as PPARγ, FABP4, C/EBPα, SREBP-1c, and Leptin. The effect of 10-HDA on preliminary molecules such as pAkt, pERK, C/EBPß, and pCREB were studied in the early stage of adipogenesis. The effect of 10-HDA on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in fully differentiating adipocytes was measured by nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) assay. RESULT: Results showed that triacylglycerol accumulation and ROS production was markedly suppressed by 10-HDA. Preliminary molecules such as pAkt, pERK, pCERB, and C/EBPß were found to be down-regulated by 10-HDA, which led to down-regulation of key adipogenic transcription factors such as PPARγ, FABP4, CEBPα, SREBP-1c, and Leptin on 3 T3-L1 adipocytes. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that anti-adipogenesis of 10-HDA on 3 T3-L1 adipocyte takes place via two mechanisms: inhibition of cAMP/PKA pathway and inhibition of p-Akt and MAPK dependent insulin signaling pathway. So it is considered that 10-HDA, a major component of RJ, can be a potential therapeutic medicine for obesity.

Ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction for rapid determination of unmetabolized synthetic polycyclic and nitro-aromatic musks in human urine.

An effective method to rapidly determine the presence of seven unmetabolized synthetic musks in human urine samples is developed. The target musks are five synthetic polycyclic musks (i.e., celestolide (ADBI), phantolide (AHMI), traseolide (ATII), galaxolide (HHCB), tonalide (AHTN)), and two nitro-aromatic musks (i.e., musk xylene (MX) and musk ketone (MK)). The method involved an ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction (USAEME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The factors that affect USAEME efficiency were optimized in detail, and the optimized procedure involved the rapid injection of 50 µL of carbon tetrachloride into 1.0 mL of urine sample (contained 0.1-g of sodium chloride) in a conical bottom glass tube. After 1.0 min ultrasonication and 3 min centrifugation (at 7000 rpm), the sedimented extract 10 µL was directly injected into the GC-MS system. The limits of quantitation (LOQs) varied from 0.1 to 0.5 ng/mL. The precisions for both repeatability and reproducibility were <8%. The trueness varied from 79 to 96% with the RSD ranging from 2 to 8%. The total concentrations of the seven unmetabolized target musks in collected human urine samples were in the range from 0.93 to 3.74 ng/mL. HHCB and AHTN were detected in all the collected samples, and the daily excretion doses were evaluated.

Green leafy vegetables in diets with a 25:1 omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid ratio modify the erythrocyte fatty acid profile of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

BACKGROUND: In addition to the actual composition of the diet (i.e. nutrient composition, food groups), the omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid ratio has been demonstrated to influence the tissue fatty acid profile and subsequently the risk for cardiovascular and other diseases. Likewise, the consumption of green leafy vegetables (GLVs) may favorably reduce the risks associated with disease. Although an ~ 3:1 omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid ratio (ω-6/ω-3 FAR) is recommended, the typical American diet has an ~ 25:1 ω-6/ω-3 FAR. Previous research affirms the ability of collard greens (CG), purslane (PL), and sweet potato greens (SPG) to improve the hepatic profile of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). The aim of the present study was to determine the influence of GLVs, incorporated (4%) into diets with a 25:1 ω-6/ω-3 FAR, on the erythrocyte fatty acid profile of male SHRs. METHODS: SHRs (N = 50) were randomly assigned to one of five dietary groups - standardized control (AIN-76A), Control (25:1 ω-6/ω-3 FAR), CG (25:1 ω-6/ω-3 FAR + 4% CG), PL (25:1 ω-6/ω-3 FAR + 4% PL) or SPG (25:1 ω-6/ω-3 FAR + 4% SPG). Following 6 weeks consumption of diets, SHRs erythrocyte fatty acid profiles were determined by gas-liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Significantly lower percentages of total saturated fatty acids (p < 0.05) and greater percentages of polyunsaturated fatty acids were present among SHR erythrocytes following the consumption of diets containing CG, PL and SPG. Total polyunsaturated fatty acids were greatest among SHRs consuming diets containing purslane. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates the ability of GLVs to mitigate the potential effects of an elevated ω-6/ω-3 FAR, which may contribute to an atherogenic fatty acid profile, inflammation and disease pathogenesis. Dietary recommendations for disease prevention should consider the inclusion of these GLVs, particularly among those consuming diets with an ω-6/ω-3 FAR that may promote disease.

Effects of climate on fatty acid profile in Camelina sativa.

Due to the importance of Camelina for low expectation (water and other inputs) and as an oil crop, Soheil cultivar was cultivated in Ardebil, Hamedan, Rasht, Ilam, Kermanshah, Karaj, Mashhad, Ahvaz and Bushehr Provinces. Fatty acids were measured with MG-Mass. Results showed that morphological traits were not very dependent on the climate, but the profile of the fatty acids was dependent. ANOVA of the effects of climate on the saturated fatty acid showed that there were significant differences between climates for all studied SFAs (P<0.01) with the exception of Lauric acid. Mean squares of the effects of climate on the Unsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFA) in showing that there were significant differences between climates for all studied MUFAs (P<0.01). Mean squares of the effects of climate on the amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), oil percentage and protein content of seeds indicated that there were significant differences between climates for all these studied traits. Mean squares of the effects of climate on the amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), oil percentage and protein content of seeds indicated that there were significant differences between climates for all these studied traits. The statistical analysis for the effects of Climate on the ratio of the Saturated Fatty Acid (SFA) in Camelina sativa showed that there were significant differences (P<0.01) for SFA, MUSFA, PUFA, MP, P:S and MP:S. Briefly, in the cold climates, the percentage of unsaturated fatty acids was higher. So it is possible to the cultivation of this plant in cold provinces for nutritional purposes and in tropical provinces for industrial and sanitary purposes.

Comparison of salting-out and sugaring-out liquid-liquid extraction methods for the partition of 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid in royal jelly and their co-extracted protein content.

Homogeneous liquid-liquid extraction (h-LLE) has been receiving considerable attention as a sample preparation method due to its simple and fast partition of compounds with a wide range of polarities. To better understand the differences between the two h-LLE extraction approaches, salting-out assisted liquid-liquid extraction (SALLE) and sugaring-out assisted liquid-liquid extraction (SULLE), have been compared for the partition of 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA) from royal jelly, and for the co-extraction of proteins. Effects of the amount of phase partition agents and the concentration of acetonitrile (ACN) on the h-LLE were discussed. Results showed that partition efficiency of 10-HDA depends on the phase ratio in both SALLE and SULLE. Though the partition triggered by NaCl and glucose is less efficient than MgSO4 in the 50% (v/v) ACN-water mixture, their extraction yields can be improved to be similar with that in MgSO4 SALLE by increasing the initial concentration of ACN in the ACN-water mixture. The content of co-extracted protein was correlated with water concentration in the obtained upper phase. MgSO4 showed the largest protein co-extraction at the low concentration of salt. Glucose exhibited a large protein co-extraction in the high phase ratio condition. Furthermore, NaCl with high initial ACN concentration is recommended because it produced high extraction yield for 10-HDA and the lowest amount of co-extracted protein. These observations would be valuable for the sample preparation of royal jelly.

Potential of Laurencia obtusa as a substrate for the development of a probiotic Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Laurencia obtusa (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) has tremendous nutritional value, being high in proteins, oligosaccharides, vitamins, essential minerals, and fatty acids, and it is a rich source of amino acids and trace elements. In this study, L. obtusa was extracted and subjected to phenolic, sugar and flavonoid analyses.The fatty acid, vitamin and phytosterol contents in Saccharomyces cerevisiae were evaluated when it was incubated with L. obtusa dry biomass. The fatty acids in the lipid extract were analysed after converting them into methyl esters using gas chromatography, and vitamin concentrations were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). According to the achieved results, the total fatty acid levels and vitamin contents of the S. cerevisiae prepared with algal extract increased at different rates. Our results showed that α-tocopherol decreased in the group in which the S. cerevisiae was added the algal extract. When compared to the control group, ergesterol increased in the group in which L. obtusa extract was added. Additionally, when compared to the control group in which L. obtusa extract was added, stearic acid (18:0), oleic acid (18:1) and linoleic acid (18:2) increased in the other groups. Palmitoleic acid (16:1) increased in the L. obtusa culture medium, but palmitic acid decreased in the L. obtusa culture medium. In conclusion, it was determined that the L. obtusa extract added to the development medium of S. cerevisiae caused differences in the synthesis of some vitamins and fatty acids.

Long-Term Administration of Queen Bee Acid (QBA) to Rodents Reduces Anxiety-Like Behavior, Promotes Neuronal Health and Improves Body Composition.

BACKGROUND: Queen bee acid (QBA; 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid) is the predominant fatty acid in royal jelly (RJ) and has activity at estrogen receptors, which affect brain function and body composition. However, few, long-term studies have assessed QBA effects in brain health and body composition. METHODS: Primary hippocampal neurons were treated with QBA (0-30 µM) and challenged with glutamate or hypoxia. QBA was fed to aged, male Sprague-Dawley rats (12-24 mg/kg/day) and to adult male and female Balb/C mice (30-60 mg/kg/day) for ≥3.5 months. Rats were evaluated in a behavioral test battery of brain function. Mice were measured for fat and muscle composition, as well as bone density. RESULTS: QBA increased neuron growth and protected against glutamate challenge and hypoxia challenge. Rats receiving QBA had reduced anxiety-like behavior, increased body weight, and better maintenance of body weight with age. Mice receiving QBA exhibited increased body weight, muscle mass, and adiposity in males, and increased bone density, but decreased adiposity, in females. CONCLUSIONS: QBA is an active component of RJ that promotes the growth and protection of neurons, reduces anxiety-like phenotypes, and benefits bone, muscle and adipose tissues in a sex-dependent manner, which further implicates estrogen receptors in the effects of QBA.

Isolation, Identification and High-Throughput Screening of Neutral Lipid Producing Indigenous Microalgae from South African Aquatic Habitats.

Exploring indigenous microalgae capable of producing significant amounts of neutral lipids through high-throughput screening is crucial for sustainable biodiesel production. In this study, 31 indigenous microalgal strains were isolated from diverse aquatic habitats in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Eight superior lipid-producing strains were selected for further analysis, based on Nile red fluorescence microscopy screening. The microalgal isolates were identified to belong to the genera Chlorella, Neochloris and Chlamydomonas via morpho-taxonomic and molecular approach by 18S rRNA gene sequencing. Chlorella vulgaris PH2 had the highest specific growth rate (µ) and lowest doubling time of 0.24 day-1 and 2.89 ± 0.05 day-1, respectively. Chlorella vulgaris T4 had the highest biomass productivity of 35.71 ± 0.03 mg L-1day-1. Chlorella vulgaris PH2 had the highest lipid content of 34.28 ± 0.47 and 38 ± 9.2% (dcw) as determined by gravimetric analysis and the sulfo-phospho-vanillin (SPV) method, respectively. Chlorella vulgaris PH2 exhibited a high content of saturated fatty acids, while Chlorella sp. T4 exhibited a high total content of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids with a low content of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The preponderance of neutral lipids suggests that Chlorella sp. T4 is a suitable candidate for biomass feedstock for biodiesel production.

Ultrasound induced green solvent extraction of oil from oleaginous seeds.

Ultrasound-assisted extraction of rapeseed oil was investigated and compared with conventional extraction for energy efficiency, throughput time, extraction yield, cleanness, processing cost and product quality. A multivariate study enabled us to define optimal parameters (7.7 W/cm(2) for ultrasonic power intensity, 40 °C for processing temperature, and a solid/liquid ratio of 1/15) for ultrasound-assisted extraction of oil from oilseeds to maximize lipid yield while reducing solvent consumption and extraction time using response surface methodology (RSM) with a three-variable central composite design (CCD). A significant difference in oil quality was noted under the conditions of the initial ultrasound extraction, which was later avoided using ultrasound in the absence of oxygen. Three concepts of multistage cross-current extraction were investigated and compared: conventional multistage maceration, ultrasound-assisted maceration and a combination, to assess the positive impact of using ultrasound on the seed oil extraction process. The study concludes that ultrasound-assisted extraction of oil is likely to reduce both economic and ecological impacts of the process in the fat and oil industry.